China Launches Another Investment Drive at This Year's Davos Forum

Vice Premier Hu Lipeng Leads Delegation
Lower-Level Representation Compared to Previous Years
Scheduled to Attend Closed-Door Meeting with Global CEOs

Hu Lipeng, Vice Premier of China. Xinhua News Agency

The Chinese delegation, led by Hu Lipeng, Vice Premier for Economic Affairs of the State Council and known as President Xi Jinping's "economic strategist," is attending the World Economic Forum (WEF, also known as the Davos Forum) to meet with global business leaders and attract investment into China.

According to Bloomberg on January 19 (local time), Vice Premier Hu will participate in a closed-door meeting at the Davos Forum attended exclusively by global chief executive officers (CEOs).

Bloomberg explained that as tensions between the United States and China have eased ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's planned visit to Beijing in April, China appears to be seeking to strengthen ties with global CEOs.

The situation in which President Trump is causing friction with Europe over Greenland is also expected to work in China's favor, as world leaders are seeking to build relationships with China. A notable example is Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's official visit to China on January 15, where he met with Premier Li Qiang of the State Council to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation.

It is reported that during the Davos Forum, China is holding closed-door meetings with global CEOs to attract investment into the country. Last year, Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council, held a private luncheon with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, and Steve Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone. Premier Li Qiang is also said to have explained China's economic recovery to CEOs at the 2024 Davos Forum.

Meanwhile, Vice Premier Hu currently oversees macroeconomic policy, industrial policy, and international economic cooperation, and leads the overall U.S.-China trade negotiations. Within the Chinese leadership, he is regarded as President Xi's key economic advisor. Compared to previous years, when China sent Premier Li Qiang in 2024 and Executive Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in 2025, the level of this year's delegation has been lowered.